Credit: Incremental to Compliance, Urban-Think Tank ETHZ, 2017 SOCIAL INNOVATION IN PREVENTATIVE HEALTH FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

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1 Credit: Incremental to Compliance, Urban-Think Tank ETHZ, 2017 SOCIAL INNOVATION IN PREVENTATIVE HEALTH FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

2 CHALLENGE STATEMENT The Swiss Leading Houses (University of Basel and Swiss TPH) and the South African Leading House (NRF National Research Foundation) are interested in identifying and supporting sustainable social innovations aiming to improve health in human settlements across South Africa. The challenge partners are the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA); the Department of Science and Technology (DST); the Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa; the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), and the Swiss Leading houses of the University of Basel and the Swiss Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH). 1

3 SWISS PARTNERS The participation of Switzerland in the programme is firstly through the initiator of the innovation challenge by the Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa with their Swiss and South African partners. The Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) as the official partner of the Department of Science and Technology in the Swiss South Africa Joint Research Programme (SSAJRP), through the University of Basel as the Swiss Leading House will provide content, logistical and financial support for the programme. Additionally the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) serve as the sub-leading house in the SSAJRP and provides content support and linkages to the Swiss South Africa Global Environmental Health Research Chair. ETH Zurich, a Swiss university, and Urban Think Tank and Ikhayalami as a Cape Town NGO, are collaborating on a housing project in Khayelitsha referred to as the empower-shack project. 2

4 SOUTH AFRICAN PARTNERS The science and technology collaboration between Switzerland and South Africa is built on the joint research projects and collaboration in the innovation landscape stemming from the science and technology agreement signed between Switzerland and South Africa in Thus far 62 joint research projects have been supported since 2008 under mandate of the National Research Foundation (NRF) serving as the Leading House for South Africa. Over 1000 entrepreneurs benefited from the Swiss South Africa Business Development Programme (SSABDP) in partnership with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) since TIA serves as the official partner for Switzerland in the SSABDP whereas the innovation challenge will be a natural extension of the collaboration. It is foreseen that a number of innovation challenges will be facilitated between Switzerland and South Africa as an instrument to enhance the innovation collaboration with the first being the Social Innovation Challenge in Housing. 3

5 CHALLENGE BRIEF South Africa faces a human settlement challenge. Along with the formal subsidised housing programmes provided by government (RDP housing and similar), initiatives to upgrade informal settlements have been identified as promising, and have started scaling up throughout the country. However, precarious living conditions, access to basic services, and environmental risk factors such as air pollution, indoor fuel combustion and climate change, have been widely recognised to negatively affect the health outcomes of individuals and communities. Over 7.5 million people live in informal settlements with little to no access to basic services such as water and sanitation. South Africa faces a large burden of disease attributable to these factors, therefore innovations in the fields of energy, technology, built environment, urban planning and health promotion are of the utmost importance. 4

6 CHALLENGE BRIEF Challenges Energy consumption for cooking, heating and other household purposes leading to negative health impacts. Materials used for building not ideal for insulation, noise control, health and safety. Absence of, or inadequate access to infrastructure for waste disposal. Absence of, or inadequate access to infrastructure for water, sanitation and hygiene. Primary interest for solution Secondary interest for solution Potential Innovations Innovations in renewable, clean and affordable energy; affordable building materials with a low environmental impact. Tech and Social innovations in waste disposal, water access, sanitation and hygiene. Tech and Social innovations in architecture, spatial planning to improve health and safety in human settlements. *Gap Housing: term that describes the shortfall or gap in the market between residential units supplied by the State and houses delivered by the private sector. 5

7 CHALLENGE BRIEF The challenge owners wish to identify and support novel social, business and technology-based innovations in semi-formal, low-income human settlements that contribute towards improved living conditions and, by extent, better health. Two crucial characteristics expected in the innovation are: Firstly, that social and technological innovation has a positive impact on health especially related to the Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN in 2015 (United Nations, 2015), specifically the following goals: Secondly, that social and technological innovation that can reduce environmental burden of diseases, especially the environmental risk factors relevant to the South African context. 6

8 CHALLENGE BRIEF Additional public health factors which are of interest in this challenge, and examples of potential solution characteristics are the following: Public Health issues relevant to the challenge Examples of potential solution characteristics CATEGORY 1 CATEGORY 2 CATEGORY 3 Diseases related to ambient air pollution and indoor fuel combustion. Diseases related to the built environment and related materials, chemicals (relevant in housing context), noise pollution, and fires. Diseases related to solid waste disposal and WASH, as well as related harmful behaviours. Innovative solutions for improved use of energy (cleaner, renewable, cheaper, safe for environmental health) for lighting, cooking, heating and other purposes in households. Innovative materials for the housing environment which provide better insulation or better health outcomes. Innovative health promotion initiatives or social interventions which address environmental risks of fires, natural disasters. Innovations or technologies which provide solutions for solid waste disposal in contexts where service delivery is not reliable or nonexistent; Innovations or technologies which provide solutions for WASH in informal settlement environments Innovative health promotion initiatives or social interventions which address issues of solid waste and/or WASH in informal settlement environment. The above list is not exhaustive, and additional value propositions determined by you as the solution provider are absolutely encouraged. 7

9 CHALLENGE BRIEF Note: Although the main interest of this challenge is to address these issues in the context of gap housing, innovations which are relevant to other types of human settlements (e.g. RDPs, informal dwellings) will still be considered. 8

10 SOLUTION MATURITY Solutions which are of interest for this challenge will be at least at the proof of concept stage in the innovation matrix. In other words, feasibility of the proposed innovation must be proven. Relevant solutions may be up to pre-commercial or commercial levels. The Innovation Matrix (DNAbiotec, 2017) Idea INNOVATION ELEMENT INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT Background IP (papers, patents) Idea evaluation Mature Idea Research Mature idea The scientific process Valid research result Invention Development Valid research result e.g. testing fit for purpose Proof of concept Productisation Proof of Concept Transform invention into product Manufacturing Prototype Pilot scale Full Scale Commercialisation Manufactured product Marketing Sales Prototype Product ready for sale Product traded in market Innovation 9

11 PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS Your submission should include the following: 1. Context: A description of how you perceive the challenges associated with current housing conditions, and what approach you will follow to solve the problem. 2. Value Proposition: What added value your solution provides to current human settlements across South Africa and environment (e.g. better insulation, cleaner energy consumption, lower cost of building, lower environmental impact). 3. Technical Solution: The underlying mechanics of how your proposed solution will achieve the value proposition defined earlier. 4. Desired Market Access and Roll-Out: A description of the desired market access and scale-up you would like from the challenge owner. Please include licensing costs (or other pricing as appropriate) if you have an established commercial technology. 5. Team experience: The overall capabilities and experience of the team in delivering the solution. 10

12 EVALUATION CRITERIA The challenge owner/s will evaluate proposals and select a shortlist of candidates with whom to engage further. Criteria include: Proof of your competency regarding the solution, based on experience, knowledge and training; The ability of the solution to meet the desired characteristics discussed in this challenge brief, and/or any others identified by you; Technical feasibility of the proposed solution or viability of the social innovation; Communication and explanation of any associated proprietary or 3rd party intellectual property aspects involved in the proposal; The capability and experience of the respondent and associated track record. For Swiss participants, if selected as one of the five finalists, one team member will be funded by the Swiss Leading House, and must be able to join in the South African Innovation Summit Camp One week full of activities centered around innovation in Cape Town. 11

13 TIMELINE Submissions open Review Engage 3 July Closing date: 31 July 11 August 7 9 September Stage Description Start Date End Date 1 Challenge Go-Live date 30 June 2017 n/a 2 Challenge submission period 30 June July Evaluation period 11 August September Feedback to respondents 7 9 September 2017 n/a 12

14 OPPORTUNITIES Shortlisted submissions will have access to a number of opportunities: OPPORTUNITIES Participation in the South African Innovation Summit, including: Match and invest platform for the winners, Exposure to the relevant market opportunities through the ecosystem tour, Exhibition space in the Swiss booth at the summit. Participation at a specially hosted World Café; a matchmaking, showcasing and networking event Participation in the Swiss-South African Entrepreneur and Business Development Programme Linkages with universities and research entities for potential partnerships Networking event at the Swiss Embassy in South Africa Showcasing of innovations in the planned Swiss South Africa World Environmental and Water Resources Congress in 2018 Distribution of winning innovations marketing materials to relevant South African industries and companies Workshops on doing business in South Africa Technology validation access in a ETH-Zurich test house ¹ Incubation support and seed funding from the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) South Africa ² Travel support for both Swiss and South African entrepreneurs PARTICIPANTS FROM SWITZERLAND OR OTHER COUNTRIES PARTICIPANTS FROM SOUTH AFRICA ¹ Once the ETH Zurich Modular test-house is available. ² Innovation and skills development support if the solution is in accordance to TIA s funding criteria. 13

15 SUBMISSION PROCESS To submit a proposal for this challenge, please submit to: submissions@siih.org.za Further information can be found at: For any enquiries, please contact Rinus Schwim at rinus.schwim@siih.org.za or Dorina Kühner at dorina.kuehner@unibas.ch 14

16 PROTECTION OF IP The intention of this challenge is to identify promising social and technological innovations that could be implemented in the housing environment across South Africa. It is important that no confidential intellectual property or information is disclosed through this process. This may include pre-existing software, processes, systems or market research that is not publicly available. By submitting a response, you represent that your response does not, and will not be deemed to, contain any confidential information of any kind whatsoever. The Swiss Embassy and its project partners will not be held liable for the loss of any intellectual property. In the event that your solution is selected, if required, a partner agreement will be signed to protect intellectual property. 15